Abstract: An instrument (203; 204) for endoscopic applications. The instrument is able to be guided through a curved shaped tube (201; 202) and has an intermediate cylindrical element (3) with a handling end portion with a flexible portion and actuating means located at an actuating end portion. The intermediate cylindrical element (3) has a first cylindrical part (31; 151) at the handling end portion, a second cylindrical part (35; 155) at the actuating end portion and a number of longitudinal elements (38; 60; 70; 80; 90; 100; 110; 130; 153) for transferring the movement of the actuating means to the handling end portion. The longitudinal elements are separated by longitudinal slits in the intermediate cylindrical element.

Abstract: An instrument (203; 204) for endoscopic applications. The instrument is able to be guided through a curved shaped tube (201; 202) and has an intermediate cylindrical element (3) with a handling end portion with a flexible portion and actuating means located at an actuating end portion. The intermediate cylindrical element (3) has a first cylindrical part (31; 151) at the handling end portion, a second cylindrical part (35; 155) at the actuating end portion and a number of longitudinal elements (38; 60; 70; 80; 90; 100; 110; 130; 153) for transferring the movement of the actuating means to the handling end portion. The longitudinal elements are separated by longitudinal slits in the intermediate cylindrical element.

Abstract: An instrument (203; 204) for endoscopic applications. The instrument is able to be guided through a curved shaped tube (201; 202) and has an intermediate cylindrical element (3) with a handling end portion with a flexible portion and actuating means located at an actuating end portion. The intermediate cylindrical element (3) has a first cylindrical part (31; 151) at the handling end portion, a second cylindrical part (35; 155) at the actuating end portion and a number of longitudinal elements (38; 60; 70; 80; 90; 100; 110; 130; 153) for transferring the movement of the actuating means to the handling end portion. The longitudinal elements are separated by longitudinal slits in the intermediate cylindrical element.

Abstract: An instrument (203; 204) for endoscopic applications. The instrument is able to be guided through a curved shaped tube (201; 202) and has an intermediate cylindrical element (3) with a handling end portion with a flexible portion and actuating means located at an actuating end portion. The intermediate cylindrical element (3) has a first cylindrical part (31; 151) at the handling end portion, a second cylindrical part (35; 155) at the actuating end portion and a number of longitudinal elements (38; 60; 70; 80; 90; 100; 110; 130; 153) for transferring the movement of the actuating means to the handling end portion. The longitudinal elements are separated by longitudinal slits in the intermediate cylindrical element.

Abstract: An instrument (203; 204) for endoscopic applications. The instrument is able to be guided through a curved shaped tube (201; 202) and has an intermediate cylindrical element (3) with a handling end portion with a flexible portion and actuating means located at an actuating end portion. The intermediate cylindrical element (3) has a first cylindrical part (31; 151) at the handling end portion, a second cylindrical part (35; 155) at the actuating end portion and a number of longitudinal elements (38; 60; 70; 80; 90; 100; 110; 130; 153) for transferring the movement of the actuating means to the handling end portion. The longitudinal elements are separated by longitudinal slits in the intermediate cylindrical element.

Abstract: An instrument (203; 204) for endoscopic applications. The instrument is able to be guided through a curved shaped tube (201; 202) and has an intermediate cylindrical element (3) with a handling end portion with a flexible portion and actuating means located at an actuating end portion. The intermediate cylindrical element (3) has a first cylindrical part (31; 151) at the handling end portion, a second cylindrical part (35; 155) at the actuating end portion and a number of longitudinal elements (38; 60; 70; 80; 90; 100; 110; 130; 153) for transferring the movement of the actuating means to the handling end portion. The longitudinal elements are separated by longitudinal slits in the intermediate cylindrical element.

Abstract: A cylindrical element with a hinge structure has: a first portion (524; 1124; 522(n?1); 1122(n?1)); a second portion (522(1); 1122(1); 522(n); 1122(n)) which is rotatable relative to the first portion (524; 1124; 522(n?1); 1122(n?1)) about two rotation sections (530(1); 1130(1); 530(n); 1130(n)) arranged at locations 180° rotated relative to one another viewed in a tangential direction of the cylindrical element; an attachment element (502(1); 1006; 502(n)).

Abstract: A steering device for connecting to an elongated instrument comprises a supporting unit comprising a first channel having a first central axis, said first channel extending from a distal side to a proximal side of the supporting unit, wherein the supporting unit is arranged around said first channel, and a steering unit rotationally arranged on said supporting unit, the steering unit arranged to secure/release a plurality of longitudinal elements of an instrument to move with the rotational movement of the steering unit.

Abstract: A steering device for connecting to an elongated instrument comprises a locking plate with a coupling to which a steering plate of the instrument can secure such that the steering plate and the locking plate move together; and a steering unit for moving the locking plate. The elongated instrument comprises a plurality of elongated elements extending along an instrument shaft and secured to a steering plate at a proximal end of the instrument shaft, with the steering plate being movably connected around a support member secured to the shaft.

Abstract: A steerable instrument has a proximal end and a distal end, a steering device (168), and a tubular body (18) extending in a longitudinal direction from said proximal end to said distal end. The tubular body (18) has an intermediate flexible zone (12a) and a distal deflectable zone (17) and a tube element made from a metal. The tube element has a first slotted structure (74) in the flexible zone (12a) and a second slotted structure (72; 106; 136; 156) in the deflectable zone (17). The tubular body (18) has tangential rotation blocking elements which form cable channels (96; 97; 146; 152), each cable channel (96; 97) accommodating one of a plurality of cables (90). The cables (90) are connected at the proximal end to the steering device (168) and at the distal end to the deflectable zone (17) to allow deflection of the deflectable zone (17) by the steering device (168).

Abstract: An instrument (203; 204) for endoscopic applications. The instrument is able to be guided through a curved shaped tube (201; 202) and has an intermediate cylindrical element (3) with a handling end portion with a flexible portion and actuating means located at an actuating end portion. The intermediate cylindrical element (3) has a first cylindrical part (31; 151) at the handling end portion, a second cylindrical part (35; 155) at the actuating end portion and a number of longitudinal elements (38; 60; 70; 80; 90; 100; 110; 130; 153) for transferring the movement of the actuating means to the handling end portion. The longitudinal elements are separated by longitudinal slits in the intermediate cylindrical element.

Abstract: An instrument (203; 204) for endoscopic applications. The instrument is able to be guided through a curved shaped tube (201; 202) and has an intermediate cylindrical element (3) with a handling end portion with a flexible portion and actuating means located at an actuating end portion. The intermediate cylindrical element (3) has a first cylindrical part (31; 151) at the handling end portion, a second cylindrical part (35; 155) at the actuating end portion and a number of longitudinal elements (38; 60; 70; 80; 90; 100; 110; 130; 153) for transferring the movement of the actuating means to the handling end portion. The longitudinal elements are separated by longitudinal slits in the intermediate cylindrical element.

Abstract: An instrument for endoscopic applications has a first end portion and a second end portion opposing the first end portion. An intermediate cylindrical member of the instrument has a handling end portion with a flexible portion located at the first end portion and actuating means located at the second end portion. The actuating means has a first cylindrical part. The handling end portion has a second cylindrical part connected to the actuating means by longitudinal elements for transferring a movement of the actuating means to a bending of the handling end portion. The longitudinal elements are separated from one another by longitudinal slits defined in the intermediate cylindrical member. Each of the longitudinal elements is composed of a strip, adjacent strips being separated by a gap. A plate is arranged to move in a longitudinal direction of the gap but has a circumferential width filling a width of the gap.

Abstract: An instrument for endoscopic applications, which instrument has a tube like member (3) having a first end portion and a second end portion opposing the first end portion. The tube like member (3) has a handling end portion with a flexible portion at the first end portion and actuating means located at the second end portion, which actuating means has a first cylindrical part (35). The handling end portion has a second cylindrical part (31) connected to the actuating means by means of a number of longitudinal elements (38) for transferring a movement of the actuating means to a bending of the handling end portion. The longitudinal elements (38) are separated from one another by a number of longitudinal slits formed in the tube like member. Each longitudinal element is composed of a strip (91, 93; 101, 103; 111), adjacent strips (91, 93; 101, 103; 111) being separated by a gap (94, 95; 104, 105; 112).

Abstract: An instrument for endoscopic applications, including a tubular member having a handling end portion having a flexible portion and actuating devices located at the other end portion, and longitudinal elements for transferring the movement of the actuating devices to the handling end portion resulting in a change of orientation thereof, whereby the handling end portion includes at least two independent flexible portions, whereby the actuating end portion has a corresponding number of actuating devices, and whereby each actuating device is connected by its own set of longitudinal elements to a part of the handling end portion for effecting a change of orientation of one of the flexible portions.

Abstract: An instrument for endoscopic applications, including a tubular member having a handling end portion having a flexible portion and actuating devices located at the other end portion, and longitudinal elements for transferring the movement of the actuating devices to the handling end portion resulting in a change of orientation thereof, whereby the handling end portion includes at least two independent flexible portions, whereby the actuating end portion has a corresponding number of actuating devices, and whereby each actuating device is connected by its own set of longitudinal elements to a part of the handling end portion for effecting a change of orientation of one of the flexible portions.

Abstract: An assembly includes at least one steerable invasive instrument and an access device for introducing the instrument into an object via an access port of the object. The steerable instrument includes an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part including at least one flexible zone, a distal end part including at least one flexible zone, and a rigid intermediate part. The instrument further includes a steering arrangement for translating a deflection of at least a part of the proximal end part relative to the rigid intermediate part into a related deflection of at least a part of the distal end part. The access device includes a deflection setting arrangement for setting at least one angle between at least a part of the proximal end part and the rigid intermediate part of the instrument.

Abstract: A process for producing the actuating part of an instrument for endoscopic applications, which instrument comprises a tubular member having a handling end portion with a flexible portion and an actuating device located at another end portion, which actuating device comprises a cylindrical part connected to the handling end portion, a cylindrical part connected to the actuating device and a number of longitudinal elements for transferring the movement of the actuating device to the handling end portion, the actuating device being made beginning with a full cylindrical tube which is provided with a number of longitudinal slits thereby forming the longitudinal elements.

Abstract: A process for producing the actuating part of an instrument for endoscopic applications, which instrument comprises a tubular member having a handling end portion with a flexible portion and an actuating device located at another end portion, which actuating device comprises a cylindrical part connected to the handling end portion, a cylindrical part connected to the actuating device and a number of longitudinal elements for transferring the movement of the actuating device to the handling end portion, the actuating device being made beginning with a full cylindrical tube which is provided with a number of longitudinal slits thereby forming the longitudinal elements.

Abstract: An instrument for endoscopic applications, including a tubular member having a handling end portion having a flexible portion and actuating devices located at the other end portion, and longitudinal elements for transferring the movement of the actuating devices to the handling end portion resulting in a change of orientation thereof, whereby the handling end portion includes at least two independent flexible portions, whereby the actuating end portion has a corresponding number of actuating devices, and whereby each actuating device is connected by its own set of longitudinal elements to a part of the handling end portion for effecting a change of orientation of one of the flexible portions.